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Original poster

Aquamarine engagement ring?

45 replies

agumen · 09/07/2023 11:28

Does anyone have aquamarine as their engagement ring gemstone? In terms of "meaning" and appearance it would be perfect, but I've read conflicting things about durability. Some sources say it's very durable, others say the exact opposite and hence don't recommend it as an engagement ring. Google is not helpful and I'm worried a jeweler will give any answer that results in a sale, so asking here! Thank you!

OP posts:
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DobbleWobble · 09/07/2023 11:40

Jeweller here, we wouldn't recommend an aquamarine for an engagement ring as it is quite a fragile stone and not ideal for everyday wear. If you are keen on a blue stone a pale sapphire would be a better choice for durability. Best of luck

romdowa · 09/07/2023 11:45

I have aquamarine with small amethyst and diamond stones down the sides. I don't wear it every day though as its a soft stone but its a very nice ring

Original poster
agumen · 09/07/2023 11:53

@DobbleWobble and @romdowa thank you! That's good to know. Pale sapphire looks beautiful, I wasn't aware of these before... 😊

OP posts:
Cyclingmummy1 · 09/07/2023 12:37

A friend has a huge aquamarine that she wears all the time with no obvious issues.

Cincinnatus · 09/07/2023 12:45

Ceylon sapphire is what you need!

Alarae · 09/07/2023 13:06

This isn't my engagement ring but I wear it every day on my right hand (bought it as it's my daughters birthstone).

I've not had any issues with it but admittedly I should clean it more than I do as it gets grubby.

Aquamarine engagement ring?
Sundaefraise · 09/07/2023 13:11

I have a tanzanite engagement ring, it’s beautiful but I do wish I’d gone for something more durable that I could wear all the time. I think over a lifetime you would have the same issue with aquamarine.

mobear · 09/07/2023 13:29

My grandmother had an aquamarine engagement ring. She wore it every day for 40+ years. It’s still in excellent condition.

Anonmousse · 09/07/2023 13:40

Another jeweller here and like @DobbleWobble I would also advise against aquamarine because they are a fairly soft stone and more liable to chip or rub (and also Tanzanite and emeralds for the same reason) and try to steer toward the closest colour sapphire.
At the end of the day its the customers choice and I have sold an emerald engagement ring (and had returned for re-polishing when they chipped it 6 months later) I had advised against it and offered other options but that's what they really wanted.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 09/07/2023 13:41

Cyclingmummy1 · 09/07/2023 12:37

A friend has a huge aquamarine that she wears all the time with no obvious issues.

Same. Old friend wanted big stone ring but fiancé couldn’t afford this so she got a nice aquamarine one. Not my style but looked nice on her. Looked more like a cocktail ring to be honest.

LightDrizzle · 09/07/2023 14:11

It’s too soft and easily scratched unfortunately, as they are beautiful.

I have my mum’s sapphire and diamond ring and even though sapphire is much harder than aquamarine, it still scratches and it’s currently being polished and re-faceted. I do wear it every day though.

My engagement ring is diamond even though I love coloured stones adI like to wear my rings rather than keep them in a box. If you are super careful and only wear it out and about or when dressed up then it will be okay. You could also accept that you will replace the stone a few times over its lifetime. That’s a viable option with aquamarine as they aren’t very expensive.

Original poster
agumen · 09/07/2023 14:45

Thank you everyone. To be honest, I'm quite clumsy and prone to scratching/damaging things at the best of times, so it sounds like I should go for something more durable... and I would like to wear it daily, although maybe I'll feel differently when the novelty wears off!

Aquamarine is both DP's and my birthstone, we both grew up by the seaside, and we met through a marine hobby, hence the interest.

@Anonmousse and @DobbleWobble thanks again - do you perhaps know of a way we could integrate it into a ring without making it the centerpiece? Very open to ideas...

OP posts:
Original poster
agumen · 09/07/2023 14:46

@Alarae that's beautiful!

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HVPRN · 09/07/2023 14:51

How about something like this?

I'm hoping for a sapphire ring when we become engaged! 😁

Aquamarine engagement ring?
Gaggley · 09/07/2023 14:54

My engagement ring is aquamarine surrounded by small diamonds. I wear it every day and have not damaged it. I did manage to damage the white gold on the actual ring, which I've had repaired, so don't think I'm taking care of it particularly!

Alarae · 09/07/2023 14:57

agumen · 09/07/2023 14:45

Thank you everyone. To be honest, I'm quite clumsy and prone to scratching/damaging things at the best of times, so it sounds like I should go for something more durable... and I would like to wear it daily, although maybe I'll feel differently when the novelty wears off!

Aquamarine is both DP's and my birthstone, we both grew up by the seaside, and we met through a marine hobby, hence the interest.

@Anonmousse and @DobbleWobble thanks again - do you perhaps know of a way we could integrate it into a ring without making it the centerpiece? Very open to ideas...

Have a look at hidden stone rings, I think they incorporate a small stone on the underside/side of the ring.

loobylou10 · 09/07/2023 15:54

I have and I love it. It's in a run over setting so won't get caught/damaged.

Aquamarine engagement ring?
loobylou10 · 09/07/2023 15:55

*rub over

Cyclingmummy1 · 09/07/2023 16:42

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 09/07/2023 13:41

Same. Old friend wanted big stone ring but fiancé couldn’t afford this so she got a nice aquamarine one. Not my style but looked nice on her. Looked more like a cocktail ring to be honest.

Show quote history

Agree on all counts. It looks great on her but even as a cocktail ring, it would drown me.

LuckOfTheDrawer · 09/07/2023 16:50

I've got an reasonable sized aquamarine on my engagement ring - I wear it every day, and haven't had any problems with it. I didn't actually know this about aquamarines until now.

Daffodil77 · 09/07/2023 21:17

Mine is 11 years old this week. I wear it every day and am not careful. It's not a massive stone like a cocktail ring but it is a claw setting. It's managed fine. However the claw setting for one of the tiny side diamonds broke and the tiny diamond stone fell out.

wheresmymojo · 09/07/2023 21:23

@Anonmousse and @DobbleWobble

Without wanting to derail too much - other than sapphires and diamonds are there any other stones which are pretty durable?

Nsky62 · 09/07/2023 21:27

Blue topaz is a bit brighter, deeper colour, get a lovely vintage ring,Etsy have lovely stuff,better made

DobbleWobble · 10/07/2023 07:20

wheresmymojo · 09/07/2023 21:23

@Anonmousse and @DobbleWobble

Without wanting to derail too much - other than sapphires and diamonds are there any other stones which are pretty durable?

Sapphires are a good choice as they come in a whole rainbow of colours along with rubies which would be fine for ever day use. You could also consider tourmalines which come in a range of colours and are fairly durable.
Stones which are known to be fragile or delicate and ideally would be avoided for engagement rings are emeralds, aquamarines, amethysts, opals and many of the semi-precious stones.
Hope that helps 😊

birdbrained · 10/07/2023 07:41

I have a prominent aquamarine in my engagement ring. I never take it off. Have had it for ten plus years with no problems!